Wednesday, March 30, 2011

1. April rolls in at the end of this week and in celebration of that infamous date (April 1st) answer this question-What is something foolish you've done?
First of all I must say that I absolutely abhor anything that has to do with pranks on April 1st. I hate being pranked. I hate watching other people be pranked. My family and friends know that I am ABSOLUTELY off limits, with threats of groundings and silent treatment, from any sort of April 1st tom foolery.

So there...

Back to the question. Me do something foolish...psh...Ok I am usualy a very sage person, but don't get me wrong I have been known to drive a little faster than the speed limit, or eat more Peanut Butter Cups than I should. But something outright foolish that would make a good story to this answer...not so much.

2. With April comes Easter and that classic edible treat known as Peeps...so tell me...what's your favorite way to fix/eat chicken? I love plain old grilled chicken on our charcoal BBQ with a little olive oil and seasonings. I like this for two reasons 1) I don't have to cook it as Rich is our resident griller and 2) BOTH of my kids love chicken cooked this way. I'm telling you win-win.

3. What's the best museum you've ever visited? Or your favorite? Or the one you'd most like to visit?
I REALLY want to visit the Smithsonian. It is most definately on my bucket list. I got to visit The Hermitage museum in St. Petersberg (Leningrad at the time) Russia. Oh.My.Word. What an amazing place. I know that there are somethings that you really can't appreciate until you get older, but I think that museums aren't one of those things. I went when I was in college and I think my youth really caused me to pause and really enjoy that museum. Now I think I would be so rushed to get on to the next thing. Just a theory.

4. You know what they say about April showers...what's your preference-a shower or a bath?
I prefer a shower. I love a good bubble bath, but I really never have time for one. I have this really nice huge bathtub in my bathroom and my son Andrew has used it more times than I have. Maybe someday.

5. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"...fact or fiction? Why?
Nah...absence just sucks. Maybe you might take that person for granted less and appreciate them more when you are away, but if it actually makes your heart grow fonder you might want to find a different partner.6. What's your favorite product made/grown in your home state/province?
I would have to say avocados. I love avocados in just about everything and don't even get me started on guacamole. My knees grow weak at the just the mention. But just for the record I don't consider California my "home" state. I will always be an Iowan...and that means fried twinkies and pulled pork sandwiches...I kid...sort of.

7. What is going on in the world today that affects you the most?
What freaks me out the most living on the San Andreas Fault is this whole earthquake business in Japan. I have never really felt an earthquake before and really can't imagine what they must have gone through. It just caused me to think a whole lot more about where I live and the potential for that happening here. Now I know that we aren't able to have as big of an earthquake due to the size of our fault, but we could get close. Yikes.8. In Summary: It seems like I am a very easy person to please. Give me avocados, Peanut Butter Cups, chicken on the grill and maybe a pulled pork sandwich every now and then. Take me to the Smithsonian preferrably when "the big one" decides to hit California. Don't prank me and never leave me. Simple huh.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I could really get used to this spring break stuff. That is until my yoga pants (that I can see myself wearing everyday) start to get a little too comfortable and my kids start saying "I'm bored"...yeah maybe it is good that it is only two weeks.

However there are things that I NEVER get to do unless I am on break and...yep you guessed it...I am going to list them for you now.

1. Run outside at the perfect time 7:00 am. It is the perfect amount of light and the perfect temperature.

2. Cuddle on the couch with my girl under her big fleece blanket (that I made her for Christmas) and watch our taped All-Star Chopped...while knitting.

3. Make homemade mini pizzas and calzones from scratch...yummy.

4. Take the dog to the park, sit under a tree, read a book, and watch Bella play at the playground.

5. Casually stroll around the mall with...yes you heard it...both of my children. (Andrew did have an ulterior motive, needing new shoes, and Bella did have $20 burning a hole in her pocket, but none-the-less we all were together at the mall.)

Monday, March 28, 2011

Don't say I didn't warn y'all about March being a super crazy month around here. But don't worry I am officially on SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!! Whew...now April is a little better, but the push towards the end of the year is just as crazy. Most teachers are starting to wrap things up, but since my groups perform at the Middle School AND the High School Graduation we go until the bitter end.

But not for the next two weeks.

Here is a look at my week:

Sunday March 20:

Rain, Rain, Go Away

You know I don't really know if we needed the rain or not, more than likely we did. I also really love a good rain storm, in fact, I miss the thunderstorms after moving to California. However, my school is not an indoor school my door leads to an outside hallway and when it rains it just stinks trying to get around. It was a doozy of a rain storm...it really really rained.

Monday March 21:

PASTA

I am a pasta girl. I love it. This is a asparagus, mushroom and lobster whole wheat penne alfredo. It is a very healthy dish and it was a hit, well with Rich anyway. Bella probably would have liked it, but not Andrew!!

Tuesday March 22:

A Cold Game

Not sure how we managed to squeeze in a game because it rained pretty much all week, we did...but it was so cold. Now don't look to closely for my boy 'cause he is warmin' the bench. (At least something is warm)

Wednesday March 23:

The Latest Creation

Here is Bella's latest art work. She is getting so good!! I am going to need an entire room just for her art work.

Thursday March 24:

BEAR DOWN!!!

My Arizona Wildcats beat DUKE tonight!!! Wholly cow. I did my Master's degree there and my kids Dad did his undergrad and doctorate there so needless to say we are BIG wildcat fans. I was so excited.

Friday March 25:

WHA??

These look very familiar. I can't believe Starbucks is carrying CAKE POPS. Now granted mine are MUCH cuter and made with a lot more love. No I haven't tried one yet, and I probably won't. Its the principle of it all.

In Summary: I am proud of my kids, whether painting a beautiful horse or warming the bench, they are super great kids and I love them very much. I am a proud wildcat and even prouder of all that I accomplished at that great school. Thankfully I am a pretty good (and healthy) cook and can provide nourishing food for my family, now if I could only get my teenager to eat something green. Finally, I am so blessed to have a great partner to live this life with. He is my rock and I know we can tackle anything life throws at us.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

OK...this blogging thing isn't as easy as it looks. I am a very busy person with two children who crack me up so you'd think I'd have LOTS of stuff to write about, but those issues also prohibit me from having TIME to write LOTS of stuff.

I am also missing reading a lot of blogs that I love.

There is a temporary light at the end of the tunnel...next week is SPRING BREAK!!! I also have two weeks of SPRING BREAK!!!

yeah...i know, rough.

Hopefully, I will get things on my to do list done and have some time to really dig into some blogs. Don't worry my list is very short...ha ha.

So today I am going to just purge my brain and fill you in on some stuff.

1. My daughter was VERY upset at her friend for wearing shorts that were too short for her and was almost showing her butt. To that I say...amen sistah.

2. My friend and colleague Tracy knew that I wanted to read The Art of Racing in the Rain so he sent me a copy with a note that said that I didn't need to rush reading it. To that I say... phsh...you'll have it back in your hands by tomorrow. (Thank you Tracy)

3. Here is the winner to my little giveaway. To that I say...finally.

Sara...send me your address and I'll get your prize right out to you.

4. I have been working hard on my very first arrangement of an a cappella piece. It has consumed a lot of my time and I hope it turns out OK. It is the song Firework. To that I say...don't worry I have purchased the royalities.

5. Andrew was at the dinner table when he got a text that seemed to be bad news. (I know, I know...texting at the dinner table is not the greatest but they are so stealthy with their texting I hardly knew he had his phone) I asked him what was wrong and he told me nothing (typical). After he went upstairs Bella looked over at me and said, in a very serious voice "Do you want me to go talk to him?". Cracked. me. up. To that I say...yes, better you than me.

6. I have decided to run a half marathon next May in wine country. It is very hilly. I then decided first to run a half marathon in October. It is in Long Beach and it is very flat and it runs a long the beach. Then I decided that I probably run a 10K in June to kind of get me back in the running thing. To ALL of that I say...feel free to try to talk me out of it.

7. Andrew said he felt the 3.0 earthquake in Malibu last night at 11:30 pm. To that I say...better him than me.

8. They say that the California coast will be recieving some radiation from the Japan reactor. People are starting to stock up on that potassium iodine. To that I say...hand me the peanut butter cups 'cause if I am meeting my maker that is the only thing I want.

9. I am once again asking for forgiveness for being blog absent lately. So forgive me. All I have to say is...2 weeks of spring break baby.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

So I am getting my Project 365 up today but I have been pretty non existent lately...I am going to try to do better this week...forgive me???

I had a week full of inanimate objects, however, I did get a picture of both of my kids...that is a big win (not to sound like Charlie Sheen or anything)

Here is my week!!

Sunday March 13:

My Weekly Puzzle

I start the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle each Sunday and sometimes I even get it done before the next Sunday!! It sits on my kitchen table and I work on it a little bit each day. I don't do any other crossword puzzles but this one.

Monday March 14:

My New Book

I spent some time with my new book today. I haven't finished it yet but only because I keep forgetting to bring it with me when I leave the house...maybe that is the key. But since you can't purposely forget something it might not be the answer after all.

Tuesday March 15:

March Madness

I had to work on this bad boy today per Andrew's demanding. He likes to get everyone's all organized and put together before Thursday. I am one of those who really picks that teams I like until the final 8 and then I go with the chalk (top seeded). I never do very good in our pool, but I still love college basketball and have fun watching the games.

Wednesday March 16:

Such a Cute Nerd

My girl had to dress up for her book report commercial today and she had to be a nerd. She had high knee socks and flip flops and her 3-D glasses worked perfectly to complete the outfit. So cute.

Thursday March 17:

St. Patrick's Day Sports Assembly

She had her winter sports assembly today. She got to wear free dress with green, had to bring sports uniform for her assembly, and had to bring her chorus shirt for a picture. Lots of wardrobe changes today.

Friday March 18:

A New Toy

Rich and I had some time to kill before the Dance Concert tonight so we went to the mall and I spent a gift card on this new French Press. We tried it out last night and I loved it. It makes really good coffee.

Saturday March 19:

Did I Mention It's Baseball Season?

Another game today. Do you think he is happy that I took this picture? Yeah...I decided I don't care. I can take as many pictures as I want...I am the mama.

In Summary: I am a word nerd who loves college basketball even if I can't pick 'um. I love my new French Press and I will work hard to ignore the fact that coffee through a paper filter is better for you. OCD much?? I have a cute girl whether she is a nerd or practicing to host the oscars with her wardrobe changes. My boy might not like his picture taken, but gosh darn it he just better get used to it.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

It is time for the hodgepodge...I had my choral concert last Tuesday night so I wasn't able to participate in the hodgepodge last week. I really missed it. Actually, my blog readers really missed it because they were tired of reading my weekend highlight post.

I'm Back!!!

1. What would you do if you found a pot of gold? Let's pretend this pot of gold is worth exactly $1500 (which would actually be more like a cup of gold at current values). Anyway, let's also pretend you have to spend it as opposed to making a donation someplace. Now tell me what you would do with that cup pot of gold?
Have I mentioned that I like shoes?? I jest...sort of. I think that I would spend it on a lot of little things. Plane tickets to visit my family, maybe a bicycle, and more than likely a couple or ten pairs of shoes.

2. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form?
Nope. I wear a green shirt to school just to be festive...so I don't get pinched. I saw a shirt once that was gray with black letters that says "If you pinch me I will punch you in the face" Not that I am a violent person, but that cracked me up.

3. Have you been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug? What spring cleaning job most needs doing at your house? What spring cleaning job are you most dreading?
I am always in a state of Spring Cleaning malaria. A couple of areas that need some attention are my windows and screens and just getting general everyday marks off of my walls...any suggestions???

4. lime-shamrock-sage-forest...your favorite shade of green?
I like a kelly green or a fresh-grass-in-spring green. Not too bright but just vibrant. There are some really ugly greens out there.

5. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." So...do you believe in luck or do you believe we make our own luck?
I have a hard time discerning the difference between being lucky and being blessed. I lead a very blessed life and if I win the lottery then I will say that I'm lucky. That being said I do believe that if you life your life in an honorable way that is full of appreciation and hard work...you will be rewarded.

6. Monday (3/14) was Pi Day. Get it? Pi =3.14. Those math types are so clever aren't they? Since I'm not one of them tell me what's your favorite piE (the edible kind).
I am a big fan of apple pie a la mode. I love to make apple pie, although I haven't made it it awhile. When Rich and I were in high school he always talked about how much he liked apple pie, especially his Grandma's. So as a surprise for his birthday I made him an apple pie from scratch. He loved it and told me that it gave his Grandma's a run for its money. I think he just liked me a lot... :)

I am a personal fan of May the 4th. (May the fourth be with you)

7. That same date (3/14) happens to be the birthdate of the late physicist Albert Einstein. I bet he knew the value of Pi. So...what do you think is more important and or valuable in life... intelligence or common sense?
Well Albert Einstein wasn't such an Einstein in his day. He dropped out of school and was believed to be dyslexic (not in insinuate dyslexic people are not smart), and was very right brain oriented, as he was an amazing musician. Anyway, I believe in common sense more than intelligence. I have known very intelligent people with very little common sense and the lack of common sense ruined any intelligence they had.

8. In Summary: I am a very lucky blessed and can make a mean apple pie from scratch. I would love to have $1500 to get a few things I want need and maybe one of those things should be a maid so I can get over my Spring Cleaning sickness...lord knows I might be a little happier if I could live with a little disorder and dust around my house. However, on March 17th I will happily don my kelly green shirt just so I don't have to punch someone in the face.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Phew...A new week that is, hopefully, a little less hectic. This weekend was very nice and I felt like I got caught up on a few things.

Here are the highlights:

Friday afternoon Andrew had a baseball game that his dad went to as I had an afterschool Joseph rehearsal. I hate not being at games, especially ones that he pitches at, but it was also over an hour away so I didn't really feel ALL that bad. Thankfully his dad gave me updates and also brought him home to change and go to a friends house. So much for seeing my kid. Ahhh the life of a Mom of a teenager. Bella, Rich and I went to eat at PF Changs and then went home and Rich and I watched our new Tivoed The Event. Talk about a show that I shouldn't probably watch, yet I do. It takes everything out of me to get through an episode. Maybe I should look up the meaning of self preservation.

Saturday started off with a workout and some cleaning and then off to Andrew's afternoon baseball game. He pitched again and it was a beautiful day. I am not sure how any parent survives watching their kid play a sport. You want them to do so good so badly that sometimes it hurts. I mean really hurts. I can hardly watch. Please tell me this is normal. (Quite frankly, normal is a relative term to me so never mind.) After the game Bella and Andrew went with their dad for the night which meant Rich and I got some alone time. We went to eat at our favorite sushi place and went home to watch Iron Man II. So much MORE of an Amy movie than the first one. I really liked it. I am a new fan of Gweneth Paltrow's, she was on Glee last week and I really think she is great. For some reason she gets a bad rap, but I really like her.

Sunday was cleaning, grocery shopping, and a trip to the library. Yes you heard it a trip to the library. Yes I did get a book. Yes I started it last night. No I haven't finished it yet. Surprising I know. One of my friends and collegues, who has a great blog by the way, suggested a book for me called The Art of Racing in the Rain

﻿I did actually look for it first but it wasn't there, so I went with another chickie book.

She is an chickie author that I like so...I go with fluff once again. I'll let you know how I like it...more than likely by tomorrow.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

What a crazy week for the A-Ro household, and my to do list is still very long. I have a winner to my little giveaway to post and a weekend wrap up to get out. I am glad that next week might just be a little more normal...ha ha (that is me laughing at the word "normal", not sure I know what that word means)

Here is my week in pictures...enjoy!!

Sunday March 6:

My cellist

I am going to remind you that the Friday and Saturday before this Bella was in our high school production of Glass Menagerie...and today was Andrew's youth orchestra concert. A very full weekend.

Monday March 7:

A Perfect Rose

Bella got this beautiful rose from a cast member this past weekend. Today it really opened up. What a beautiful flower!!

Tuesday March 8:

A Handsome Bunch

Tonight I had my spring choral concert. This is my Upper School Chorus. They did such a great job and sounded SO good. My Sixth Graders and my Middle School performed too. I was such a proud teacher.

Wednesday March 9:

Baseball Game #1

Andrew had is first baseball game of the week this afternoon. The picture is from his dad's phone so it is kinda small. He got to pitch an inning towards the end. **Warning** you will see many many more baseball pics during this project 365.

Thursday March 10:

Concert #3 of the Week

Tonight Andrew had his jazz band concert. He plays bass and cello in the jazz band. He is such a great musician.

Friday March 11:

My Sweet Daughter

This morning I came into my classroom to find my Bella left me a scavenger hunt. She gave me clues to find this crazy cup creation. It was such a wonderful (end of a long week) Friday surprise.

Saturday March 12:

Baseball Game #3

Andrew actually had a game yesterday that I wasn't able to go to, so today's game was his 3rd of the week. He got to pitch again and he got 1 inning of work. He is a sophomore on the Varsity team so any playing time is really good.

In Summary: Wow...it is a wonder I got through this week. 3 concerts 3 baseball games...phew. Although it was busy I wouldn't trade it for the world. I got to show off all of my talented kids, both mine and borrowed :). It was a pretty perfect week.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Still trying to unbury myself, but I had to post this video for Friday Fun. This is my Contemporary Vocal Ensemble singing Empire State of Mind at our concert last Tuesday. The boy that is rapping, and students like him, are the reason I teach. He has been with me in my choral program since 3rd grade (I used to teach the elementary kids) and is such a loyal member of my groups. My heart was bursting at his success. I am so proud of him for doing something that made him nervous, overcoming it, and ultimately being sucessful. This will have an impact on him forever and I am humbled that I had a little something to do with it. All my students make me so proud and happy to come to work each day.

Making music and loving this life, that is what it is all about.

I promise to be more present around here and I can't wait to get to some blogs that I have been ignoring.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

I know I have been missing around here and I could go into ALL the gory details about the crazy that is my life right now, and I am sure at some point I will, but at the moment I need to catch my breath and try to get back on track.

However, this picture represents my life lately...

...yes this is my car as I was trying to leave school Tuesday to go grab a bite to eat before I had to be back at school for my choral concert. This car is over so far you can't even see the white line.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Well the crazy season is officially in full swing at the A-Ro household...this is evidenced by the following:

I am late posting my Project 365

I will not be doing any sort of Weekend Highlight Reel...due to #1 above

My house didn't get vacuumed this weekend.

I turned my February calendar last night (March 6th) to realize that I have TOTALLY missed my neices birthday (March 2)

Sami...I am terribly sorry. I will make it up to you by sending you a BIG package in the mail and find some really adorable pictures of you to post on my blog. It isn't her fault that she is the first birthday of the year in our family and that her aunt can't remember that February even exsited. You are still my very special goo (girl).

This weekend was over in an instant. Speaking in instants...it is amazing how life can change in one. It reminds me that we cannot take one second for granted. I have a renewed sense of that today.
Here is My Week: (When I preview this post the Project 365 button ends up at the end of the blog...however, as I am typing this the button is sitting right above...maybe that Blogger for Dummies book needs to be read)

Sunday February 27:

My Sunday BFF﻿

Didn't get a picture for today (further evidence of the crazy that is my life at the moment), but this was what I did today.

Monday February 28:

Justin Beiber-ites

Today is Justin Beiber's birthday and let me tell you what, it was celebrated here in Sixth Grade. Girls had pieces of tape taped to their backs saying Happy Birthday Justin, they wrote on their shoes, and talked about him ALL day. Wow. ﻿

Tuesday March 1:

Lunch Bunch

I have a group of kids that come into my room during lunch to play games﻿. They play Sorry and Apples to Apples mostly. It is nice to have them in here.

Wednesday March 2:

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

I won this great prize from Tori at Yoder Yada Yada﻿. Now the real prize is this lovely pot from Mud Love. Now you really need to check out his site because all of his pottery is just wonderful and he gives a good portion of his profits to a clean drinking water project in Africa. The really cool thing is Tori remembered that I wanted an ricer to make my gnocchi...so she sent me one!! Now I can really make my homemade gnocchi (which I haven't made since the last disaster with trying to grate the potatoes). Thanks so much Tori!!

Thursday March 3:

My little Giveaway﻿

I had a little giveaway on my blog today...it really isn't much, but go here to enter and check out the wonderful websites of some places I visited while in Pasadena.\

Friday March 4:

And the Oscar Goes To

Bella was on of two Fifth Graders in our High School's production of The Glass Menagerie this weekend. She played a little girl who interacts with the characters and places key phrases up on the wall behind her. Se, obviously, didn't want me to take any pictures, thus the "Stop it Mom" look. She was so cute and was on stage for the ENTIRE play. She really enjoyed herself and loves all the attention from the High Schoolers.

Saturday March 5:

He Just Needs to Stop Growing

﻿Andrew's first home baseball game was this afternoon. He just looks so dang grown up. I must say I couldn't believe this was my little boy. They won and he played really good baseball. I was very proud of him.

In Summary: Phew...what a week. It looks like I am in for many more baseball games and theaterical shows. My students are in for a lot more fun in my classroom, and my family is in for some homemade gnocchi!!